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Last post on Feb 03, 2013 at 9:08 AM
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Cadillac DTS Forum.
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Cadillac DTS, Automotive News, Sedan
#737 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [sls002]
by texasjim
Mar 22, 2008 (3:42 pm)
I have had TWO 2006 DTS's. Both Performance models.
The first one, with 32000 miles burned in my garage fire and was almost a year old.
Bought the second new one for a Christmas present in Dec 2006. It now has 30,000 miles on it.
I have had very little trouble out of either one of them. My Air Conditioned seat quit working and the dealer replaced the seat mudule while I was getting an oil change.
The trunk mounted tail light was cracked.... replaced while getting another oil change.
Had them check the NAV unit once for a strange glitch.
Battery died after sitting in my garage for over a week with the radar detector left on and the cell phone charger plugged in. I don't think THAT was Cadillacs fault.
Called OnStar... 5 minutes later my dealer called and said the service truck was on the way. Ten minutes later... service truck was here. Jumped started with no problem. He replaced the battery anyway.
It has been at the dealer a couple more times for real minor stuff. They always give me a new car to drive. Usually a Lux ll DTS.
All in all... VERY LITTLE trouble with a total of over 60,000 miles on the two DTS Performance Sedans.
I have one question to the forum...
Why do most people think that the Performance Sedan with the Magnetic Ride, ride SOFTER than the regular DTS?
My experience has been the exact opposite. The Magnetic Ride is quite a bit FIRMER than the regular DTS. I have driven SEVERAL of them, both before I bought my first Performance Sedan and several time when it has been at the dealer.
The regular DTS has a much more smooth, soft and floaty ride. It also does not seem as CONNECTED to the road as the Performance Sedan.
Texas Jim
#738 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [texasjim]
by sls002
Mar 23, 2008 (2:02 pm)
My comment in the post you responded to was that the mag ride would soften the ride on rough roads. The performance package gets harder tires which will make the ride firmer. However, the performance DTS is NOT a sports sedan. If you want a sports sedan, the STS is closer to the mark. I will point out that, while the Corvette offers the mag shocks, they are not available on the Corvette with the performance handling package (Z51).
#739 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [texasjim]
by thegraduate
Mar 23, 2008 (7:33 pm)
Geez, with all those issues it sounds like the car will nickel and dime someone to death once the warranty expires... you've had more problems in the first 30,000 miles than I've had in the last 30,000 miles in my older of two vehicles, which has 180,000 miles on it.
I was urging my folks to look into a year-old DTS, but I think I'll hold off on that now. They have 42,000 completely problem free miles in their run-around-town car (a Civic EX); your DTS would be unacceptable.
#740 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [sls002]
by texasjim
Mar 23, 2008 (9:42 pm)
My comment in the post you responded to was that the mag ride would soften the ride on rough roads. The performance package gets harder tires which will make the ride firmer. However, the performance DTS is NOT a sports sedan. If you want a sports sedan, the STS is closer to the mark. I will point out that, while the Corvette offers the mag shocks, they are not available on the Corvette with the performance handling package (Z51).
I agree with you about the rough roads. It does smooth them out a lot.
I know it is not a SPORTS SEDAN. If I had wanted one of those, I would not have bought a big DTS.
I like big comfortable cars. I don't like one that beats me up on trips. I have had my share of THOSE.
But that said... it is not too shabby for it's size and weight in the handling department.
Texas Jim
#741 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [thegraduate]
by texasjim
Mar 23, 2008 (9:46 pm)
The problems I listed were for BOTH cars... a total of over 60,000 miles. Most all of the problems were in the first two or three months.
I am also real particular about ANYTHING that I percieve as wrong with my car. If I think something is wrong... it goes back to the dealer.
I have been very happy with the two DTS Performance Sedans.
#742 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [texasjim]
by sls002
Mar 24, 2008 (7:21 am)
I had thought that the FWD STS was a nice car when it was new in 1992. I also thought that if I ever bought one, I would want the STS, not the base Seville. However in 2002 my dealer wanted to dispose of the last SLS in stock and made me a deal that was acceptable. While at the time I was more interested in a sport sedan like the CTS, I was not really looking to buy one. I found the SLS's performance, ride and handling to be quite good for a FWD car. I had traded my 98 Aurora for it.
I find that my current SRX to handle much better than the Seville did, and I do not find the ride overly hard on long trips. I do have an optional sport package with lower profile tires (50's) on all four wheels. I think that on your DTS the ride would be harder without the magnetic shocks.
#743 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [texasjim]
by vic10
Mar 25, 2008 (7:20 am)
"Why do most people think that the Performance Sedan with the Magnetic Ride, ride SOFTER than the regular DTS? "
The Performance sedan wasn't on my radar until YOU guys on the cadillacforums suggested I try driving one...and my impression was that it did ride softer than the Lux III, though "softer" may not be the correct word. A couple of possibilities:
1: All suspensions are a compromise and the standard Caddy must be firm enough at highway for control yet soft enough in town for comfort. So you aim somewhere in the middle, compromising on both ends. The Magnaride lessens the compromise. It can allow a softer in town ride because the shocks will add the appropriate firmness for highway driving. Don't know if that is actually true, but the concept of the variable shocks would allow that kind of set up.
2. When I drove the Lux III, I felt more wallowing, maybe a bit more shudder, when large suspension movements occurred. That was pretty much eliminated by the Magnaride. So though the suspension might be stiffer, it gave a much more controlled ride, which resulted in a smoother ride that was perceived as softer.
To me the Performance model was closer to what I expect of a "Cadillac ride" than the standard suspension. That, along with a more responsive transmission sold me. (The car is due in the next two weeks.....)
Vic10 (aka TulsaVic)
#744 of 894 Re: Reliable DTS? Anybody have one? [vic10]
by sls002
Mar 25, 2008 (7:49 am)
The proper terminology is "active suspension" for the magnaride. The performance sedan's suspension is computer adjusted for the roughness of the road so that the suspension is a firm as possible at all times while still soft enough to give a "Cadillac" ride. This will allow the performance DTS to handle better on good roads, while still riding nicely on rougher roads. The basic DTS suspension is tuned for a decent ride with good handling, or at least my SLS was. The advantage of the base suspension is that replacement struts will not cost a lot. The performance DTS should handle better than the base suspension, but for the best handling either the RWD CTS or STS would be better. However, there are other compromises with the RWD STS or CTS.
#745 of 894 Re: 2006 DTS - Seats are Sooo uncomfortable - Am I the only one? [maserati
by maseratiman
Mar 25, 2008 (9:54 pm)
Call me a traitor - I sold the DTS for another Italian sports car. The seat was SOO painful that I had to succumb to what came natural to me. Now before the hatful emials come in I still love to all things Cadillac. I will most likely buy a XLR which I just drove. WOW so I will never leave my passion for Cadillac ever.
Newport BT